Peaceful Pro-lifers Arrested in Maryland
Troopers Run Amok, Conduct Mass Arrest of Pro-lifers In Maryland
Bel Air, MD – Eighteen pro-lifers participating in the Maryland Face the Truth Tour were arrested without warning by Hartford County State Troopers in the city of Bel Air, Maryland on Friday, August 1, 2008.
It was during the last tour stop of the week-long event, sponsored by Defend Life. when a State Trooper named Bradley approached the group and told them to move and put away their signs or they would be arrested. In an effort to comply, group leader Jack Ames gathered the group and moved down the road, into the city limits of Bel Air, Maryland.
The group stood peacefully on public property and did not “march” into the street as one news organization erroneously reported. Without warning, an estimated twenty patrol cars arrived on the scene and began arresting pro-life participants without a word. Those arrested were not told what they were being charged with, nor were they read their rights.
One of the women who participated in the tour overheard a police radio conversation where an unknown person told the troopers to make the arrests and that they would “figure out later” what charges would be filed.
At least two people suffered medical problems after having to sit for over a half hour with metal handcuffs that were too tight.
Two minors in the group were soon released, but the adults were held overnight. The men and women were held in two separate cells, but could hear each other. They passed the hours joining together in singing Christian hymns. The last of the pro-lifers were released on Saturday, August 2, at about 10:45 AM.
The group was eventually charged with loitering, failure to obey a lawful order, and disorderly conduct.
“There was some question about whether or not the group had a ‘demonstration permit.’ Are law enforcement officers now imitating the oppressive tactics that are used in Beijing or Tehran? The First Amendment of the Constitution is demonstration permit enough,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who had participated in the Maryland tour earlier in the week. “This is an open and shut case of officers who ran amok, and trampled upon the constitutional rights of their victims. Hartford County can expect to have to answer for these civil rights violations in court.”
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My Comments: This really irks me! This is not China! In the United States our freedom of speech is protected under the First Amendment. We are guaranteed the right to speak freely and the right to protest peacefully without government interference. Whenever a police officer asks a group of protestors to move to a different spot due to traffic interference or for some other practical reason that is understandable, but that was not the case in this particular instance. This group was told to move (which they did) and to put away their signs (which they had every right to hold and display). It was wrong for the officer to make such a request. The police had no right to arrest this peaceful group, nor to handicuff them and harm them physically as they did, but they, in fact, violated the rights of the protestors, as they did not tell them their rights nor did they tell them what they were being charged with. I hope that legal action is taken against these police officers -- particularly the officer in charge of this atrocity against these American citizens. I am appalled by their behavior!
Some punitive action needs to be taken against these officers by their superiors, they need to apologize for their behavior, and those arrested should indeed be compensated for their mistreatment and arrest. In addition, this arrest should also be removed from the records of the protestors.
Were they punished for telling the truth? That's certainly what it looks like from my perspective.
Bel Air, MD – Eighteen pro-lifers participating in the Maryland Face the Truth Tour were arrested without warning by Hartford County State Troopers in the city of Bel Air, Maryland on Friday, August 1, 2008.
It was during the last tour stop of the week-long event, sponsored by Defend Life. when a State Trooper named Bradley approached the group and told them to move and put away their signs or they would be arrested. In an effort to comply, group leader Jack Ames gathered the group and moved down the road, into the city limits of Bel Air, Maryland.
The group stood peacefully on public property and did not “march” into the street as one news organization erroneously reported. Without warning, an estimated twenty patrol cars arrived on the scene and began arresting pro-life participants without a word. Those arrested were not told what they were being charged with, nor were they read their rights.
One of the women who participated in the tour overheard a police radio conversation where an unknown person told the troopers to make the arrests and that they would “figure out later” what charges would be filed.
At least two people suffered medical problems after having to sit for over a half hour with metal handcuffs that were too tight.
Two minors in the group were soon released, but the adults were held overnight. The men and women were held in two separate cells, but could hear each other. They passed the hours joining together in singing Christian hymns. The last of the pro-lifers were released on Saturday, August 2, at about 10:45 AM.
The group was eventually charged with loitering, failure to obey a lawful order, and disorderly conduct.
“There was some question about whether or not the group had a ‘demonstration permit.’ Are law enforcement officers now imitating the oppressive tactics that are used in Beijing or Tehran? The First Amendment of the Constitution is demonstration permit enough,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who had participated in the Maryland tour earlier in the week. “This is an open and shut case of officers who ran amok, and trampled upon the constitutional rights of their victims. Hartford County can expect to have to answer for these civil rights violations in court.”
VIEW PHOTOS
My Comments: This really irks me! This is not China! In the United States our freedom of speech is protected under the First Amendment. We are guaranteed the right to speak freely and the right to protest peacefully without government interference. Whenever a police officer asks a group of protestors to move to a different spot due to traffic interference or for some other practical reason that is understandable, but that was not the case in this particular instance. This group was told to move (which they did) and to put away their signs (which they had every right to hold and display). It was wrong for the officer to make such a request. The police had no right to arrest this peaceful group, nor to handicuff them and harm them physically as they did, but they, in fact, violated the rights of the protestors, as they did not tell them their rights nor did they tell them what they were being charged with. I hope that legal action is taken against these police officers -- particularly the officer in charge of this atrocity against these American citizens. I am appalled by their behavior!
Some punitive action needs to be taken against these officers by their superiors, they need to apologize for their behavior, and those arrested should indeed be compensated for their mistreatment and arrest. In addition, this arrest should also be removed from the records of the protestors.
Were they punished for telling the truth? That's certainly what it looks like from my perspective.
First off, welcome back! Second, this is indeed rather disturbing. Yet it's also far from the first time we've heard of cases where police have arrested people for pro-life demonstrations with no valid reason. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake..."
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have heard from some police departments recruiting people, one question that has been ask is "would you be willing to fire on your own family"? I couldn't believe that when I heard it, but the gentleman who told me claimed it was true. If this is true, things may get very bad before they get better.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Frival! Each time I hear one of these stories, I can't help but be shocked.
ReplyDeleteThat's horrible, Bill!